INTERNATIONAL rugby is on its way back to Wrexham's Racecourse with the announcement by the Welsh Rugby Union that Wales A will play Scotland A there on Friday, April 5, next year.

That is the evening before the Wales v Scotland full international at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and continues the recent tradition of bringing one A international a year up to the north.

That has proved popular and rewarding with Wales A unbeaten at the home of Wrexham FC where they have played in front of large and enthusiastic crowds.

North Wales Rugby Union chairman Dick Jones welcomed the decision and said: "We are very pleased the union have maintained-their interest in North Wales rugby. "Now it's up to us to make sure we get another very good crowd and we'll be looking for plenty of support from the clubs and from North Wales as a whole.

"It does put The Racecourse firmly on the international rugby map and it has been tremendous for the game here.

"We're hoping that many Scottish supporters will detour off the M6 and come across to Wrexham on their way down to Cardiff. Our aim has to be to get as many people as possible into the Racecourse.

"If we can build on the success of the previous games here then we can ensure that Wrexham remains a home for international rugby."

The North Wales Rugby Union will launch its new inter-provincial tournament at the Kinmel Manor, Abergele, on Monday, September 3.

Then the new kits specially designed for the four provincial sides will be unveiled and it is hoped that Wales director of rugby Terry Cobner will attend.

The four provinces, Wrexham and Powys Rhinos, Denbighshire and Flintshire Bulls, Gwynedd Eagles and Anglesey and Colwyn Sharks, will play each other in a seasonlong midweek competition with the aim of providing a higher grade of rugby than on the club circuit.